Funeral services for Hugh Temple Johnson, 79, of Mulhall will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 1, 2003 at Mulhall United Methodist Church. Burial will follow in Roselawn Cememtery in Mulhall. Services are under the direction of Smith Funeral Home in Guthrie.

Johnson was born Oct. 19, 1923 in Mulhall to Ruth and Frank Johnson. He died Thursday, March 27, 2003, in the arms of his loving wife, Frances, at Mercy Health Center in Oklahoma City.

In 1940, he graduated from Mulhall High School. He attended St. John's Academy in Kansas for one year before becoming a cowboy at Oklahoma A&M College in Stillwater. A member of the 1943 ROTC Engineering Corps, he was activated for duty, serving in World War II until January 1946. He returned to Oklahoma A&M to complete his business degree, graduating in 1948.

Hugh married Frances Mae Hilthon on Dec. 22, 1946. In 1950, Hugh, Frances and daughter Karla Kay moved to Monahan, Texas, where Hugh worked for Skelly Oil. In September 1951, they returned to Mulhall, purchasing the John Deere dealership and their home. They devoted their lives to successfully operating the dealership for 47 years as well as being community leaders.

A proud husband, daddy and PaPa, Hugh enjoyed playing cards and dominoes, attending OSU football and basketball games, driving around the countryside to check out his cows and bird hunting, specially his annual trip to Kimball, S.D.

A 32nd-degree Mason, Hugh was a 50 year member of Oklahoma Order of the Eastern Chapter of Mulhall OES Chapter No. 66 and St. John's Masonic Lodge and Guthrie Lodge No. 35. He was a lifetime member of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

He will long be remembered for his John Deere business, his dedicated leadership and support of the Mulhall community and to the Mulhall-Orlando school activities and for his determined spirit and his witty humor and stories.

Survivors include his wife, Frances, of the home; one daughter, Janet Cundiff and son-in-law Steve Cundiff of Oklahoma City; granddaughter Sgt. Traci Meduna and great-granddaughter Skyler Arroyo of San Antonio, Texas; grandson Steven Pricer and wife Tonya and great-granson Kyle Pricer of Chickasha; grandson Cody Cundiff of Norman, Grandson Cary Cundiff of Oklahoma City; sister-in-law Dolores Goble of Guthrie and family; brother-in-law Bobby Hilthon and wife Corky and family of Texas; extended family Barbara and Dennis Uhrig of Mulhall and Lynn, Candace and Genevive Schmook and Sara, Joe and Genna Descher of Bixby; as well as several cousins, nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, friends, buddies and loyal customers.

He was preceded in death by two daughters, Karla Kay Johnson Pricer and Marla Fay; one grandson, Casy Cundiff, and his parents and grandparents.

The family would like to thank their many friends and co-workers, Dr. Gellnar and his office staff, Dr. Craig Reitz, Dr. William Hall and the Mercy ICU staff for the compassion, friendship and support extended.

In lieu of flowers, contributions are encourage to the Mulhall-Orlando School Foundation, Mulhall OK, and to the Cancer Research at Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Suite 110, 4323 NW 63rd St., Oklahoma City, OK 73116.

Visitation for family and friends will take place at Smith Funeral Home Monday until 8 p.m. and Tuesday until 11:30 a.m.